LIVESTOCK BASED SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS IN PARIYARAM PANCHAYAT.

A study was conducted to understand existing livestock based farming systems, to assess constraints in the farm environment, to find out most accepted farming system and to develop economically viable and efficient integrated farming system in Pariyaram panchayat. Sixty farmers were interviewed. Eighty percentages of livestock farmers are above 50 years of age. Thirty five percentage of farmers treat livestock farming as their main income source. A downtrend towards rice cultivation was noticed among dairy farmers. Forty percentage of livestock farmers had three or more cattle. Fifteen percentage of farmers have 10 or more number of cattle. Sixty percentage of the farmers were getting 10 liters of milk per animal per day. Only 15 percentage of farmers are cultivating fodder in their premises. All livestock farmers have at least a few coconut trees as a subsidiary income. Most of the respondents' children are well educated. Most of the farmers are economically and socially sound. Increased feeding cost is the major problem being faced by livestock farmers. Ninteen combinations of livestock based farming systems were identified in Pariyaram panchayat. From this study it could be inferred that farming system which mainly contains livestock, coconut and rice with added options of fodder, biogas, vegetables and poultry is the most sustainable livestock based farming system in Pariyaram panchayat. For reducing the feed cost, fodder cultivation and rice cultivation should be encouraged. For increasing the profit from livestock farming, biogas plant has to be installed. Selling products as value added ones will increase profit. Proper awareness programmes are needed for attracting youngsters to this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]